Emmy fails to make the final cut for Ireland at Eurovision semi-final
By Charlotte McLaughlin, PA Senior Entertainment Reporter, in Basel
Norwegian singer Emmy Kristiansen on Thursday night failed to get to Ireland through to the next stage with Laika Party.
The song imagines the Soviet space dog as alive, despite its tragic end.
In a silvery outfit, she danced on a small stage as below the singer, her keyboardist brother Erlend Kristiansen moved only his arm to the beat of the song.
She ended saying “thank you so much”, as the crowd cheered.
The 24-year-old had hoped to replicate Bambie Thug, who at Malmo 2024 was the first Irish entrant to make the final since Ryan O’Shaughnessy in Lisbon in 2018.
The second Eurovision Song Contest semi-final saw Lithuania band Katarsis, Israeli singer Yuval Raphael, and Armenian singer PARG go through to the final on Thursday night.
Also going on to the next stage is Denmark’s singer Sissal, Austria’s JJ, and Luxembourg’s Laura Thorn.
The last qualifiers announced were Finnish singer Erika Vikman, Latvian band Tautumeitas, Malta’s Miriana Conte, and Greece’s singer Klavdia.
Protesters had “disrupted” Israeli singer Yuval Raphael’s rehearsal for the Eurovision Song Content semi-final, organisers have said.
The singer, 24, was performing New Day Will Rise during the preview show on Thursday night when six people with “oversized flags and whistles” obstructed her act.
Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR, which is organising the event in Basel, Switzerland after Nemo triumphed with The Code in Malmo 2024, said the group was quickly ejected from the St Jakobshalle arena.
A spokeswoman for SRG SSR said: “During the dress rehearsal for the second semi-final of the ESC this afternoon, the performance of Israeli singer Yuval Raphael was disrupted.
“Six people, including a family, disrupted the rehearsal with oversized flags and whistles.
“Security personnel were able to quickly identify those involved and escort them out of the hall.
“We would like to thank all the artists, delegations, staff, fans and guests, including many children, who are making ESC 2025 a unique experience.
“At the same time, we would like to emphasise that the organisers are committed to a neutral, safe, inclusive and respectful environment at the ESC.”
Videos on social media appeared to show a large Palestinian flag being extended in the crowd across several people, while an Israeli symbol was also seen in the audience.
During the live evening semi-final, Raphael’s performance passed without incident, and SRG SSR said the “atmosphere in the arena remained peaceful and cheerful throughout, and no one was ejected”.